Trunk



R. E. HARRIS TRUNK Filed sept. 7, 1927 July 1, 1930.

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ATTORNEY Patented July 1, `193() Unire f, ra, S

rArNr VrricEf noir HARRIS, or SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA TRUNK l Applicationfiled September 7, 1927. Serial No. 217,916.

l gether when it is desired to use them as a wardrobe trunk; third, toprovide a device of this class in which the bottomsof the two steamersize vtrunks have interlocking means which, when secured together, are`very rigid and will not separate or become jammed if roughly handled;fourth,'to provide a de vice of this class which is especially bracedagainst diagonal strains which occur when the `trunk is dropped on onecorner; fifth,

to provide a device of this class in which the two sections are veasilyand quickly secured together; sixth, to provide al device of this classin which either of the two sections may be shipped or otherwise usedalone; seventh, to provide a device of this class in'which theinterlocking means will not jam under ordinary conditions; and eighth','to provide a `device of Athis `class which is durable, neat inappearance, efficient in its action, sturdy of construction, and whichwill not readily deteriorate or get out of order. p n

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail' and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which: Yi

Figure l is a perspectiveview of the two trunk sections securedtogether; Fig. 2 is a perspective view `of the two trunk sections whenseparated at one side; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional :viewof the interlocking cleat shownA through 3-.-3 of Fig. 2;Fig. t is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view through 4;-i of Fig. 2 showing themeans for interlocking the corners, of the two trunk sections; Fig. 5isa still further enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 5 5 ofFig. 2 showing they locking means; Fig. -6 is. another enlargedfragmentary sectional view through 6 6 of Fig. 2 showing the reinforcededges and the means for securingithem together.; Fig. 7 is a fragmentarysectional viewthrough 7--7`of Fig. 5, showing one Vof thel lockingmechanisms and Fig. 8f is an Venlarged fragmentary sectional viewthrough 8-8 of Fig. 2 showing the means o f hinging the one side ofthetwo trunk sections. l

Similar characters offreference refer tosimilar parts and portionsthroughout Vthe several views ofthe drawings. y Trunk sections land 2,interlocking cornerr reinforcing members 3v and l, interlocking` andreinforcing sidefedgefmembers 5 and 6, interlocking separable hingedmembers r7 and 8, interlocking cleats 9 and l0, casters l1, bolt casing12, bolt actuating disc `13lock bolt 14, boltv actuating rod Vl5, andactuating rod securing `means 16, constitute the'pprincipal partsandfportions of my trunk.Y The trunk sections l and 2 are similar insize and shape to the conventional steamer trunk andare provided withbottomsla and 2t, respectively, which are preferably formed from heavysheet metal.` The bottom il? of the trunk l is provided with atriangular pressed out portion 1b at each corner thereof, with the apeXformedinto a fullV rounding curve. `Adjacent to each pressed out portionlb is a triangular slightly indented portion lc,'th e apexY of which istoward the center ofthe trunk; Fachbetton corner of the trunk l isprovided withV a corner reinforcing member 3, which is `formed fromsuitable material and vformed into three. substantially squareY portionsBa positioned at right angles to each other, Awith their common point ofcontact rounded thus-forming a cornerfreinforcing `similar to the"conventional corner reinforcing for trunks.4 One of the square portions3%, however, extends over the botten la of the trunk` section l.. andcoincides with the pressed outv ortion lb and the extended portion leiVThe other twovsquare portions coincide with .Y the drawings. j trunksection' 2 is provided with a corner the corners Vof* the ends and;sides of the ,trunk section 1" as shown -best in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.V--The bottom 22L of the trunk section 2 is provided .with a triangularindented `Yportion 2b at 'each corner thereof lwhich coincides withthepressed out portion 1b Vofthe trunk section 1., v'Adjacent to the.

triangularf indented portion 2 is a trianguc lar pressed" out portion 2cwhich coincides 'n mifwith the-indented 'portion 1F' ofthe trunksectionQl as shownbest in" Figs. 2 and 4 of Each bottom corner of the freinforcing 4 similarltoi the corner reinforc- Ving 3, the one-portiont? thereof vcoinciding `with thetriangular"indented" and pressed, outportionsplc andlll?, respectively, and the `other square portionscoinciding with the cornersof the ends and sides of the trunk section2.The corner reinforcing 3 ande aremadefwith full rounding edges so that".theywi'll not be smashed or jammed Y out of shape "by rough handling.

j llxtend'ng4 alongrthree of the side edges between Ithe reinforcedcorners of thetrunl;

' section 1 isa channel shaped ridge 5 which'v may'rfbe Vformed-leyplacing channel irons Y V-of suitable `size along theV bottom `edge ofthe portionf, which may be formed by bending the bottom2@ into' thedesiredshape Lor` by trunkfaasshown `bestin vFigs 2 and 6 of thedrawings. V',llhe corresponding three. sides ffthetrunk 2 are providedwith a* ridge i securing'T irons to the'side edges ofthe `Vbottom 2a.VThe leg of the'T Viron ts into the channel iron` 5 offthev trunksection 1.

Thebottomedgefo thetrunk section l is providedwithbinding1d which isshaped around the channel iron 5.. Similar `binding 2? is placed'alongthe side edges and Vover kthefridge Y6A of the trunk sectionV 2.

` `l".hus ,"when the Y'sections .are separated there areno.4unattractive f edges of metal showing,

gs. l

together.. 'Archannel shaped member 7 is msecured by its one Vlegtothebottom 1a of thetrunk sectionlA with its face extending flush-with' theside of the trunk.- v A simi lar channel memberB is secured to VthebotA` torn 25h01: the trunk2 by its oneY leg with itsl face extendingvinwardly from the side of the trunk and its leg positioned" adjacent Vtothe edge ofthe trunkas' shown. in Fig. 8

yoithe drawings". Theunsecuredleg 7@ of the channelfshaped"jmember 7fitsinto the channelled portionjof-the channel member Similarlythe, legs8a of' the Vchannel member 8 lits intothe-channel portion of T, "ai

`the channel V member "7.:l Thus the -two trunks arel connected togetheron the one outward movement on the trunk section 1 'vin relation to thetrunk section 2, and a sub# stantially pivotal movement of the twotrunks in relation to each other.

The bottom 1nl of the trunk section l is provided with pairs of cleats 9thereon, the one pair being near the top edgeand the other pair beingpositioned near Vthe lower .edge of the trunk section. f The cleats 9are Vdivided into two sections 9a and 9b, which are positioned invoflsetrelation toy each other.v Similar cleats 10 are provided on the trunksection 2 andare separated into sections 10a and 10? whichare positionedin oiset rela tion to each other. These cleats 9 and 10 of the 2 trunksections arev adaptedto nest together. The'sections 9a and 10n areadapted to it snugly side by side as shown best in Fig. 3 of thedrawings, and the sections 9b and 10b are adapted to fit snugly end toend. Conventional ball and socket trunk.

castors 11 are mounted in the-outer ends of each pair of cleats 9 and10. Recess portions 1B and 2e are provided Vin the trunk sections 1 and2, respectively, which are adapted to receive the ball portion of thecastors 11, when the slots'are secured together, as show n best ink Fig.3 ofthe draw ings.

, Secured adjacent to the side edge reinforcing channel iron 5 of thetrunk section i `1, in spaced relation, are a plurality 'of bolt casings12. Revol'ubly mounted in the casings 12 are bolt actuating discs 13 towhich is pivotallyV secured a lock bolt 14;, which is adapted to slidethrough slots inthe legs of the channel member 5, and through co`inciding slots in'the leg member of the TV shapedA ridge portion 6.V Theend of the bolt 14: is 'bevelled in order that the two trunk sectionswill be drawn together asthe bolt is thrust into thechannel member. Acontinuous actuating rod 15 extends between the lock lcasings 1l and ispivotally conynected to each of the discs.

Said actuating rod 15 isadapted to simultaneously operate the severalbolts 14:.

Thebolt actuating rod 15 is bent near its upper extremity to clear thecorner reinforcing members 3 and 14:. An indented portion lfisformed inthe'V bottom of the trunk` section 1 which extends vunder the channelreinforcing 5'and forms a slot therewith. The bolt actuating rod 15extends into the indented portion 1f and through the .topv ofv thetrunk. 'A depression, 1g is formedinfthe top of the trunk section 1through the one end oli which extends the end of the bolt actuating rod15. Vto the end of the rod 15 is a link 'member 16a which forms a partof the trunk lock means 16. Mounted von the extended end of lthe link16a is a lock mechanism 16by which extends into a retainerlc whichvissecured `l Secured CIJ to the4 trunk 1. The locking mechanism may be ofany conventional style or design; The object of th'elocking means ismerely to hold the trunks together when being shipped and is only toprevent the two trunks from working loose from one another, as eachtrunk section is provided withl its own lid which is locked in theconventional manner. l

Thus, to separate the trunks," the trunk are stood on-end as shown inFig. 2 of the drawing, and the lock 16 is loosened and turned to thekposition shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings; `The boltactuating rod 15 is pulled upwardly causing the bolt portion 11i to moveinto the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7 of the drawings.One of the trunks is pivoted on the hinge means '7 and 8 until theinterlocking cleats, corner reinforcing, and side ridges disengage eachother, then the hinge is separated. The vtrunk sections can then be usedas steamer-trunks. The rod 15 is then moved back to its originalposition and the lock 16 is closed. The two trunks are then in conditionto ybe shipped or used separately. If it is desired all the edges may beinterlocked as shown in Fig. 6, and two such locking means may be used,one on either side of the trunk.

Although I have shown and described a particular construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to belimited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement,but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction,combination and arrangement lsubstantially as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my t invention, what I` claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a trunk comprising a pair ofeasily separable self contained sections, including cover and bottommembers interlocking reinforced ridges in the bottom edges of each ofsaid trunk sections, interlocking cleats on said bottom members sopositioned as to prevent both lateral and longitudinal relative movementof said sections and castors mounted therein.

2. In a device of the class described, a trunk comprising a pair ofeasily separable sections, separable hinge means along the one edge oftheir adjacent sides, interlocking ridges along the remaining edges oftheirk adjacent sides, and interlocking cleat members extending from theadjacent sides of said trunk sections.

8. In a device of thev class described, a trunk comprising a pairofeasily separable Y sections, interlocking channel members formingseparable hinge means along the one edge of their adjacent sides, andinterlocking edges yof their trunk comprising a -pair of easilyseparableY sections,y separablev hinge means `along the one edge oftheir adjacent sides,'interlocking ridges along the remaining edges oftheir adjacent sides, interlocking cleat members extending from theadjacent sides ofsaid trunk sections, and interlocking and reinforcedcorners on the adjacentsides .of said trunk sections. f

5. In a device of the class described, a trunk comprising a pair ofeasily separable sections, separable hingeineans along the one'edge oftheir adjacent sides, interlocking ridges Valong'the remaining edges oftheir adjacent sides, and interlocking, reinforced corners on theadjacent sides of said trunk sections.

i 6. In Aa device .of the class described, a trunk comprising a pair ofeasily separable sections, interlocking, reinforced ridges in theadjacent side edges Vof eachof said trunk sections, a locking means forlocking said trunk sections .together comprising a plu,-

iality of bolt casingsmoiinted on one of saidY trunk sectionsadjacentto` said reinforced ridge portion, bolts reciprocally mounted insaid casingrv apertures in lsaid interlocked ridges of saidtrunksections for receiving said bolts, a single bolt actuating meansconnected with each of said bolts,'and means for rigidly securing saidbolt actuating means against movement.

7. In a device of the Aclass described, a trunk comprising a pair ofeasily separable sections, separable hinge means along the one edge oftheir adjacent sides, interlocking ridges along the remaining edgesoftheir adjacent sides, a locking means for locking said tiunk togethercoinprisinga plurality of bolt casiiigs mounted one one of said trunksections adjacent to said reinforced ridge portion, bolts reciprocallymounted in said casing apertures in said interlocked Vridges ofsaidtrunk sections for receiving of said sections, a channel member on thecorresponding bottoni edge ofthe other section adapted to receive saidtongue'nieinber,

and concealed locking means for securing said tongue and channel inlocked relation.

1 `9s. device `of the: class described, a pair ofself contained trunksections, including. hinged? coverV members and solid bottom members,and adapted; to be positioned with'v 5` their 7.bottommembersttogether,y interlocking channel" meinbersextending lengthwisewith p thelone bottomedge ofsaid sections formingv readily separable iAhinge means, a tongue .member onv the opposite bottom edge of one mi ofsaid sections, agchannel member on the correspondnglvbottomedge of theother sec-` tion adapted to receive'said tongue'member, a pluralityofreciprocally mounted bolts on g th'ebottom ofone section, apertures insaid 115; interlocking channel and tongue members for receiving saidbolts, and actuating means for simultaneouslyreciprocating said bolts;

A10. In a device ofthe class described, a pairtof self contained trunksections, readily separable hinge" means on the one bottom edge of eachs ection,linterlocking tongue and channellmeanson the other bottomedgeso said sections for preventing lateral and lon- `gitudina'ildsplacementlthereof and adapted to"support said sections with theirbottoms in spaced,relation` and lockingmeans confcealedbetvveen:saidYbottoms for locking said' sectionsltogether;`-V Y In testimony whereof,I have hereunto set my hand at San` Diego, California, this 27th dayofAugust,f 1927.i t Y Y ROY E.`HARRIS`.

